As promised, the village board held a public forum regarding St. Paul's Dec. 5 to discuss possible private uses for the vacant building. Three responders to an RFI (Request For Information) the village sent out were among those seated on the panel: Steve Krieger, principal, Engel Burman; Michael Daly, president, Forest Daly Housing; and Russell Matthews, executive vice president, Albanese Organization. Other panelists included Frank Fish, principal, Buckhurst, Fish & Jacquemart, Inc.; Marie Ennis, engineer, Einhorn Yaffee Prescott (EYP), Garden City Building Superintendent Mike Filippon, Village Counsel Gary Fishberg, Garden City Mayor Barbara Miller and Village Administrator Robert Schoelle, Jr.

When compared to the Nov. 13 forum on public uses, the poorly attended Dec. 4 forum, held in Stewart School's auditorium, enabled each developer to present a 15-minute proposal, followed by residents' questions and lastly, trustees' questions. Mayor Miller noted that after a review of possible dates to hold the meeting, Dec. 4 was the only available date other than waiting until after the New Year.

"Waiting until mid-January would represent over a two-month time lag between the board receiving the three developers' responses and the public being informed of these responses," she said. "Quite frankly, that would not be respectful to the developers or to the public."

The following three proposals, all in the conceptual stage, are still in need of more research in terms of cost analysis and other required details.

Working Within the Walls of St. Paul's

Krieger and his architect, who are planning a senior independent rental building in East Meadow, propose to work within the walls of St. Paul's and said they do not intend on adding and/or demolishing any part of the property to construct studio apartments/efficiency suites and one-bedroom units. They'd also like to develop English gardens in the two existing courtyards, screened from the street but visible from the playing fields. "I think there's a synergy between senior citizens and young people playing soccer or ball so we plan on leaving the fields alone," Krieger said.

Further Krieger plans on incorporating a community space for residents within the building that would offer such amenities as a library and rooms for movies and games, a sauna and more. Krieger, who noted that nothing he or his architect said is "carved in stone," told residents that he is flexible in his proposal's possible design. "We don't push the ball uphill, we push it downhill," he said.

Fusing Public/Private Uses

Daly, whose 50-year-old real estate company has performed 15 historic rehabs through the years, suggests dedicating a portion of the property to public use with the remaining for private use. Perhaps, more importantly, Daly proposes to add an additional 100,000 square feet to the property, which would "mirror image" the existing structure. He suggests the entire project could offer 25 single-family homes, which would be constructed on the circular road behind the new addition to the historical structure, and, for example, a community library. Daly intends on demolishing the cottages to allow for the 100,000 square foot addition.

"We plan to keep the front structure as is, keep the circular driveway, the flagpole," Daly, who grew up on the St. Paul's fields, said. Eighty percent of Daly's deals are public/private partnerships.

Housing for Garden City's Mature Adults

Matthews suggests converting the vacant building into residential condominiums tailored toward the village's mature adults and senior citizens. Further, the condominiums would be valued at the then-current market value. Matthews believes his proposal would best meet the interests of Garden City. He also proposes setting aside the building's first floor for possible community use, like a library. "This proposal is compatible with Garden City's character and could accommodate seniors seeking a gracious alternative to staying in a home," he said.

The Nov. 13 forum did not incorporate discussion on possible private uses, according to Mayor Miller, because trustees at that point were unable to thoroughly review the three RFIs, meet with the respondents and obtain the developers' permission to share their proposals with the public.

"We heard at the last forum and many times at board of trustees meetings the overwhelming voice of residents who think it is time for trustees to make a decision on St. Paul's," Mayor Miller added. "In response to the public's request for a decision, it is my intention to have the board of trustees focus on this at the Dec. 18 board of trustees meeting."